It seemed in order to start this year with a dose of kindness and empathy, just what these two lovely new picture books offer.
Secret giggles erupt
Here, poet Yusef Komunyakaa, who teaches at New York University, shows us a fine portrait of the hard life of a worker — in this case, a horse — and, through metaphor, the terrible, clumsy beauty of his final moments.
In Betty Culley’s novel in verse, “Three Things I Know Are True” (HarperTeen 2020), teenage Liv will not give up on her older brother, Jonah, who accidentally shot himself in the head with a gun belonging to his best friend’s father.
Any book with Scrabble at its heart is bound to be a favorite with me, but I loved “You Go First,” by Erin Entrada Kelly, for many other reasons as well.
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Cardinals among
“Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey,” by Kathleen Rooney.
We slice time just here
“Arrowood and the Thames Corpses,” by Mick Finlay.
There are certain books we can read over and over again, our go-to titles, the ones that inspire read-alike lists.
Beyond the solstice
Shopping isn’t easy or fun, and the simple fact is most people could use a hand when it comes to finding an acceptable gift for a friend or relative.
When I saw Emma Donoghue’s new book on the shelves, I had to pull a copy and check it out for myself.
“Best of The Year” lists are continuing to come out, and here are two picture books that are included on Kirkus Reviews’ “Best of 2020.” I’m honored to say that one of the books is mine.
Open-mouthed crescent,
FORSYTH — Even in his late 70s, Roger Schmitz was an avid runner. So when one foot began to drag underneath him sluggishly during the summer of 2012, he noticed.
As I’ve said here before, one of the things I love about middle-grade literature is that it has such a broad span of ages and interests.
“Dancing at the Pity Party: a dead mom graphic memoir” (Dial 2020) is Tyler Feder’s graphic novel about her mom dying of cancer.
Tearing through the brush
In his autobiographical graphic novel, George Takei tells of a childhood marred by fear.
It’s that exciting time of year when the “Best of The Year” lists come out.
Sunday morning
MONTICELLO — After retired public defender Roger Simpson’s path as an author took a turn, he churned out a 375-page work of fiction this year.
'He’s like the Kardashian of young-adult literature right now. He’s huge.'
It may be a month and a half early, but like most of us, I’m tired of 2020 and ready to move on.
The trees grow skyward,
“Everything Sad is Untrue” is Daniel Nayeri’s story of fleeing Iran with his mother and sister. By a series of minor miracles, the family evades Iran’s secret police and gets to Italy, where they stop at a refugee camp for a few years before landing in Oklahoma. Born Khosrou, he is now Daniel.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a happy story. It is a complicated tale with no clear hero or resolution. It spans decades and involves political machinations, shifting boundaries, hard feelings and death.
Autumn’s celebration
It’s going to be back to curbside pickup and virtual services only at the Champaign, Urbana and Danville public libraries starting Friday.
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